Coalition for Open Democracy

HB 323 eliminated student IDs for voting, but not explicitly for registering to vote.

After passage, the New Hampshire Secretary of State issued guidance to election officials stating, quote, "Student IDs cannot be used as proof of ID when registering to vote, requesting an absentee ballot, or checking in to vote in an election." In August, the Coalition for Open Democracy sued, arguing it burdened voters under the First and Fourteenth Amendments, discriminated against younger voters, and that the Secretary of State's guidance exceeded the bounds of the law.

Federal District Judge Joseph Laplante denied a stay September 1st, ruling it was too close to the state primary, but his October 2nd ruling found that while banning student IDs didn't violate the US Constitution, HB 323 did not forbid election officials from using student ID as safety valve documentation if the student had proven age, domicile, and citizenship.

So for now, students may register to vote using a student ID, but October 6th, the New Hampshire Secretary of State appealed to the First Circuit.